Mandi Celebrates 80th Independence Day with Enthusiasm and Development Initiatives
Patriotic Celebrations in Mandi
The 80th Independence Day was marked with vibrant celebrations in Mandi, where the district-level festivities took place at Seri Manch on Saturday, showcasing a strong sense of patriotism.
Anirudh Singh, the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, presided over the event, where he raised the national flag and reviewed a parade featuring contingents from the Himachal Pradesh Police, Home Guards, NCC, NSS, and Scouts and Guides.
Honoring Freedom Fighters
Prior to the main event, Singh paid homage at the Martyrs’ Memorial located in Indira Market and adorned Mahatma Gandhi's statue with flowers, honoring the sacrifices made by freedom fighters and soldiers for the nation’s liberty and security.
Green Panchayat Initiative
In a notable announcement, Singh revealed the launch of the Green Panchayat Programme, which will see the installation of 500-kW solar power projects in various panchayats throughout Himachal Pradesh.
He mentioned that 25% of the revenue generated from these solar initiatives would be allocated to support orphaned children and widows in the respective gram panchayats.
Boosting Rural Economy
Singh emphasized the government's commitment to enhancing the rural economy, announcing an increase in the procurement price for cow milk to ₹61 per liter and buffalo milk to ₹71 per liter, benefiting approximately 21,000 milk-producing families in Mandi district.
Additionally, the Himachal Pradesh Pasture Policy-2026 has been approved, which includes a ₹300-crore program aimed at supporting over 40,000 families involved in pastoral and livestock activities.
Promoting Natural Farming
The Rajiv Gandhi Natural Farming Startup Scheme was introduced to encourage natural farming practices and improve farmers' incomes.
The support prices for various naturally grown crops have been set, including wheat at ₹80 per kg and maize at ₹50 per kg, leading to significant procurement achievements in Mandi district over the past two years.
Horticulture Development
Singh highlighted the transformative potential of horticulture, noting that the first phase of the HP SHIVA project is developing 2,612 hectares statewide, with 93 clusters established in Mandi covering nearly 997 hectares, benefiting around 3,920 farmers.
A comprehensive horticulture policy with an investment of ₹1,292 crore aims to cover 6,000 hectares and support over 82,000 horticulturists by 2032.
Infrastructure Development
Strengthening rural infrastructure remains a priority, with ₹15 crore allocated for the construction of 225 panchayat buildings and community centers in Mandi over the past three and a half years.
Development works worth ₹517 crore are currently underway in the district under the Viksit Bharat Rozgar Guarantee and Aajeevika Mission (Rural).
Educational Initiatives
The minister launched the ‘Apna Pustakalaya–Adhyayan Kaksh’ initiative, which aims to create study rooms in 55 de-notified school buildings, providing dedicated spaces for students preparing for competitive exams.
Anti-Drug Campaign
The Independence Day celebrations also featured the Chitta Mukt Himachal campaign, with anti-drug committees conducting regular meetings and awareness campaigns in high-risk areas of Mandi district.
A pledge against drug abuse was taken during the ceremony.
Cultural Performances and Recognition
The event showcased vibrant cultural performances by students and local groups, along with screenings of video songs and a documentary produced by the Department of Information and Public Relations.
Singh also planted an araucaria sapling near the Martyrs’ Memorial as part of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign and recognized individuals and organizations for their contributions.
Community Participation
The celebrations were attended by numerous dignitaries, elected officials, descendants of freedom fighters, Veer Naris, ex-servicemen, and representatives from various social and political organizations.